One citizen asked if city councilors do not believe in the ability of the Historic District Commission to decide which projects are in the best interest of the city? Best how?

If the best interest is strictly to increase revenue, these projects accomplish that. If the best interest, however, is for the HDC to tastefully advance the character of this unique city into the next century, then how did we arrive at Portwalk and 51 Islington St.? Where will we end up with HarborCorp?

The experts say it's not about height, that height is "arbitrary." If there are no regulations to balance the height issue, then height does matter. If the zoning ordinances allow development on 95 percent of the lot, then height does matter.

With the CUP in place, the neglected Northern Tier and a section of the Islington corridor are currently not governed by any regulation to prevent another box-type structure. Form-based zoning, for all of its merits, will not yet include these areas. We are then left to have faith in our land-use boards. Remember Portwalk and 51 Islington St.

If we leave the decision making to the land-use boards, they will pass it along like a hot potato until we end up with possibly another Portwalk. The HDC has commented that hardly any citizens spoke against the Portwalk project. If we presumably left it to their wisdom, the result is the giant brick box running corner to corner from now into the next century.

Experts are also suggesting that tasteful, quality materials matter, and can balance the height issue. Why do the boards have to approve poor-quality anything?

If the land-use boards are making their recommendations based on what our zoning ordinances allow, then the city needs improved ordinances, and the developers need fewer loopholes. With much due respect to those serving many, many hours on these boards, give them the needed tools (or rules), because the subjective approach isn't working.

And after all of the above, Portwalk added 30 windows among numerous changes, so what's the point? Really, what is the point? Add to that having to swallow one HDC commissioner's inappropriate verbal attack because citizens were actually upset about these changes. These behaviors are wrong on so many levels, not the least of which is the fact that this is our city, too.

In closing, all of this makes it difficult to let due process play out. And, yes, it is very disheartening and disturbing. Repeal the CUP, improve the zoning ordinances, and let the land-use boards earn back the citizens' trust.

Advertise

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
seacoastonline.com ~ 111 New Hampshire Ave., Portsmouth, NH 03801 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service